Govt shelves ‘Green tax’ proposal
Shimla, January 29
The government has, for the time being, dropped a proposal for the imposition of ‘Green tax’ in Shimla. The tax was being considered as a means of resource mobilisation as had been done in Manali earlier.

Govt to ban mechanised mining
Bir-Barohra (Hamirpur), January 29
The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, said yesterday that the government was planning to pass legislation for banning the mechanised mining in ‘khuds’ and along the riverbeds of the state.

Khullar may get top Forest postShimla, January 29Pankaj Khullar, the senior-most Indian Forest Service Officer of the state cadre, is likely to succeed Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R.A. Singh, who retires on January 31.

Police seeks more time in PMT case
Shimla, January 29
The special police team probing the HP-CPMT paper leak case today sought six weeks’ more from the High Court of Himachal Pradesh to remove the procedural objections detected by the prosecution in the charge sheet prepared against over 100 persons involved in the case.

Man seeks high-level probe into son’s death
Nurpur, January 29
A retired armyman, ex-Subedar Major Madho Nand Rana, hailing from Hagwal village in this sub-division, has demanded a high-level probe into the death of his only son last year.

Engineer’s forcible retirement stayed
Bilaspur, January 29
While rebuffing the state’s PWD Superintending Engineer (10th circle) R.C.Gupta, the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal has put a stay on the forcible retirement of Assistant Engineer F.C. Guleria, who was also working in the same office. Mr Guleria is the state President of the Assistant Engineers’ Association and an active member of the trade union.

Demonstration by relatives of missing girlNahan, January 29Over 200 family members, relatives and residents of Satiwala village under Nahan tehsil today peacefully demonstrated in front of Paonta police station, demanding an early recovery of
Sonika.

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Photo
exhibition of Kargil martyrs of HP
A photograph exhibition of martyrs from Himachal Pradesh.(56k)

Shimla, January 29
The government has, for the time being, dropped a proposal for the imposition of ‘Green tax’ in Shimla. The tax was being considered as a means of resource mobilisation as had been done in Manali earlier.

A proposal to impose the tax on non-Himachal vehicles entering the state capital was being deliberated on similar lines as had been done in Manali.

So far the ‘Green tax’ or ‘Composite tax’ has been imposed by the government only in Manali town.

"Even though it was suggested that the tax should be imposed as a means of resource mobilisation, it was felt that it could create a lot of harassment for the tourists. So for the time being it is not being imposed," confirmed an official.

However, after discussing the issue threadbare at a meeting it was decided not to impose it right now.

The imposition of ‘Green tax’ was one of the proposals in the projects proposed by the Tourism Department for the ‘City Development Plan’ so as to seek funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

The money collected through the tax was deposited with the Tourism Development Council and spent on improving infrastructure and civic amenities locally.

The green tax was imposed in Manali on June, 2004, and so far a total of Rs 5.36 crore had been collected till end of last year.

Out of this amount over Rs 2.23 crore have already been spent on infrastructure improvement and creation of facilities in Manali.

The tax is charged from every vehicles, including two wheelers bearing a non-Himachali registration number.

The tax charged on a scooter is Rs 100, on a car Rs 200, at a Tata Sumo Rs 300 and on a bus Rs 500. The tax is for a period of five days and is inclusive of all parking charges at Manali, Solang and Rohtang.

The money that has been collected in Manali has so far has been spent on creating parking lots, musical fountain, solar lights, by-pass, parks, illumination of the ancient Hadimba temple.

The money has been collected and spent through the Manali Tourism Development Council. The council intends undertaking some mega projects as per the master plan prepared by a consultant.

Some of the bigger projects include shifting of the bus stand and construction of a by-pass, which will to a great extent solve the traffic-congestion problem in Manali town.

Bir-Barohra (Hamirpur), January 29
The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, said yesterday that the government was planning to pass legislation for banning the mechanised mining in ‘khuds’ and along the riverbeds of the state.

Addressing a public meeting, he said in order to stop the 'rape of environment' due to mining; no machines would be allowed even at those sites where permission for mining had been given.

“A Bill in this regards would be brought in the next Assembly session and if the modalities are not completed by then, the government would pass an ordinance,” he added.

He said mining done on a large-scale could lead to an environmental hazard and posed a serious threat to bridges and the water supply schemes. Consequently, no one would be allowed to use bulldozers on the riverbeds and in ‘khuds’ except for the locals. They, too, would be allowed to take material in small quantities for their personal use, he added.

Taking a dig at the BJP, he said the party was the political wing of the RSS. “Anybody who does not have an RSS connection cannot make it big in the BJP. The RSS itself does not have a democratic set up," he added.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's cavalcade was shown black flags by a group of locals, who were protesting against the ITV Battalion of police from the Jangal area.

However, in his speech, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the battalion was shifted after getting a request in this regard from the police authorities that the location was not suitable for them. Besides, many local farmers had also been demanding shifting of the battalion.

Earlier, the Chief Minister announced that an Industrial Training Institute would be opened at Lambloo in Bamsan constituency of the district and 70 senior secondary schools would get science blocks during current financial year at a cost of Rs 48 crore.

The Chief Minister also addressed a public meeting at Lambloo. He also laid the foundation stones of a science block of Government Senior Secondary School, Lambloo, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 54.33 lakh, bridge over Dudhwain Khad on the Harsan-Langwan road to be constructed at a cost of Rs 47.62 lakh and Rest House at Chheorin (Bohni) to be constructed at a cost of Rs 43.86 lakh.

Dharamsala, January 29
The Himachal government has started the process of recruiting Punjabi teachers to introduce the language in the government-run schools.

Initially 100 Punjabi language teachers are being recruited for 21 schools in Solan district, 14 schools in Sirmaur district, 21 schools in Kangra district, 21 schools in Una district, six schools in Bilaspur district, four schools in Shimla district, three schools in Kulu district, two schools in Mandi district, two schools in Hamirpur district and six schools in Chamba district.

the government after a survey of all government-run schools has decided to recruit Punjabi teachers. At least 20 students are required to get a Punjabi teacher to teach this language.

A senior government official disclosed it would put extra burden of Rs 2.40 crore in form of salary and perks to the teachers being recruited by the Education Department.

Since the state is passing through hard times financially, the official said the government had also approached the union government to fund this project for Punjabi language teaching.

Shimla, January 29
The special police team probing the HP-CPMT paper leak case today sought six weeks’ more from the High Court of Himachal Pradesh to remove the procedural objections detected by the prosecution in the charge sheet prepared against over 100 persons involved in the case.

The High Court will take a decision on the application filed by the police on February 2 even as the extended deadline of January 31 will be over day after. It remains to be seen whether the court will give more time to the police to complete its report and the charge sheet or not.

The police today filed an application for seeking six weeks’ time to remove the procedural objections that had been pointed out by the prosecution in the charge sheet prepared by the police. The police has prepared charge sheet against over 100 persons, including parents, touts, middlemen and other facilitators in the paper leak case.

The special team probing the PMT paper leak case had earlier been given two months’ extension and later six weeks time to complete its report and file the charge sheet against those involved in the case.

Nurpur, January 29
A retired armyman, ex-Subedar Major Madho Nand Rana, hailing from Hagwal village in this sub-division, has demanded a high-level probe into the death of his only son last year.

He has been running from pillar to post to seek justice in the mysterious death of Amit Rana, who was allegedly taken away by his close relatives on November 16 last year in a Maruti car, which reportedly met with an accident at Jassur near here. He succumbed to his injuries in the DMC Ludhiana.

In a letter submitted to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, he has demanded a high-level probe into the death of his son. He stated that even though the police had lodged an accident case, his close relatives, in a planned conspiracy, had kidnapped his son at 6.30 p.m. on November 26 last year when he was returning home.

He was taken away in a Maruti car (HP-38-2678) and was murdered near Jassur, he alleged. The DSP Nurpur re-investigated the case who clarified that there was no circumstantial evidence which could prove that it was a murder case.

Bilaspur, January 29
While rebuffing the state’s PWD Superintending Engineer (10th circle) R.C.Gupta, the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal has put a stay on the forcible retirement of Assistant Engineer F.C. Guleria, who was also working in the same office. Mr Guleria is the state President of the Assistant Engineers’ Association and an active member of the trade union.

The Superintending Engineer had under Rule 14 of the Central Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1965, passed an order to retire Mr Guleria on the grounds that he was not doing office work. The tribunal has also directed the Principal Secretary, PWD, to take appropriate action and present a report to the tribunal within six weeks.

Earlier, Shashi Kant Sharma, advocate, pleaded with the tribunal that Mr Guleria was being unnecessarily harassed by the Superintending Engineer and his 11 months salary had been blocked by him. Mr Sharma said Mr Guleria was being victimised and added that the Superintending Engineer was not competent to pass order against Mr Guleria.

Nahan, January 29
Over 200 family members, relatives and residents of Satiwala village under Nahan tehsil today peacefully demonstrated in front of Paonta police station, demanding an early recovery of Sonika.

Residents of Satiwala also met the DSP and alleged that they were not going to believe the story given by the police on the basis of a statement given by the accused, Rajesh Kumar, that Sonika was murdered by him. — OC